The Plunge - Unconventional Wisdom For The Ultimate Convention

Over 2.2 million guys get married every year. And according to the wedding media, they fall into one of two categories: the lazy, nearly catatonic "yes man" who just wants everyone to stop bothering him until he mumbles "I do" and gets wasted at his own wedding; or the Groomzilla, a micromanager and penny-pincher who drives everyone crazy.

To the guys at risk of becoming Yes Man: We will feed you the right information at the right time to keep you out of the doghouse and, perhaps, even impress your bride. We know you've probably been to a weddings before, so we won't talk down to you and explain the most basic concepts. But we'll cover everything you need to know—from buying the ring to planning the honeymoon to coping with a post-wedding funk—without subjecting you to the drudgery of florists, invitations, or cakes.

Why should you care anyway? Your relationship, for one. Let's face it, even though your girlfriend is wonderful and lovely and all those syrupy clichés, she's about to become a bride...who is none of those things. Follow our advice and you just might end up seeing the "girlfriend" more.

Secondly, gobs of money. In this new modern era, you'll probably foot a good chunk of the tab. Her $3,000 table decorations are coming out of your collective hide-whether you realize it or not-even if her folks are writing the checks. If you slap on the blindfolds and give her the credit card, you not only ignore your investment, you set a precedent of spending the rest of your life—literally—as a yes-man. Wedding planning is to marriage what a grueling, two-year election is to the US Presidency: it tests you, it steels you, it gets you ready for office.

To the guys at risk of becoming Groomzilla: Relax, don't try to do everything, just focus on what's really important. It's possible to balance the budget without being a tool. We'll tell you what to worry about and what to ignore.

In an industry that is wholly focused on the bride, The Plunge addresses the needs of the other half of the equation. With advice written for men by men, it comes with our Pledge:

We will never:

• Treat you like an idiot.
• Pretend wedding planning is fun.
• Give a damn about florists.
• Insult your relationship. Wedding planning sucks. Marriage itself (probably) doesn't.

ThePlunge is edited by Jeff Wilser, author of the book The Maxims of Manhood, a collection of essays, of sorts, about being a guy. Jeff has written for GQ, New York magazine, the New York Daily News, and the websites for VH1 and MTV. More here: www.JeffWilser.com.